Voip Service Reviews
Each of these VoIP services offer high quality local and long distance calling, will allow most people to save hundreds of dollars a year and include tons of great features. To learn more about VoIP, visit our FAQs.
VoIP Reviews & Prices
Service Name:
Plans:
Setup Fees:
$ Back Guarantee & Cancel Policy:
Promotions:
Countries Included:
Rating:
Bottom Line:
World Unlimited: $24.99/mo 500 mins: $17.99
None - free activation, shipping & Vonage phone adapter
Free to cancel within 30 days/under 250 mins or $39.99 after 30 days
1 month free; $24.99/mo. unlimited to 60+ countries; no set-up fees
Over 60 - see review for full list
1 month free, unlimited calling to 60+ countries, best quality, no set-up fees
Unlimited: $8.33-$19.95
$14.95 S&H
No cancel fee for month-to-month plan, can cancel prepay & contract plans in first 30 days for $19.95
$199.95 for two years prepaid unlimited; 60 minutes free calling to 70+ countries
USA & Canada
Cheapest total cost of any plan (2 years unlimited for $199 + $14.95 setup)
Unlimited: $7.86-$22.95
500 mins: $9.95-$14.95
$29.99 plus $10.95 S&H and up
Free to cancel within 14 days or $49.95 disconnection fee per line after 14 days; No refunds on activation or S&H
2 years for $189
USA, Canada
Super cheap plan (2 years unlimited for $189 + $40.94 setup) with low cancellation fees
World Max: $4.95 for first mo., $23.95 thereafter; America Unlimited: $4.95 for first mo., $19.95 thereafter
None on World Max plan; $14.95 S&H + $29.95 activation on America Unlimited
Free to cancel within 30 days or $99.95 after 30 days
$4.95 for first month; Free activation, equipment, shipping (World Max); Free equipment (America Unlimited)
Over 80 - see review for full list
Solid plans from reliable company; Unlimited calling to 80+ countries; Discounted first month with code: LWM99
Service Name:
Plans:
Setup Fees:
$ Back Guarantee & Cancel Policy:
Promotions:
Countries Included:
Rating:
Bottom Line:
Unlimited: $24.99
Unlimited Global: $39.99; $239.99 annual
$29.99 plus approx. $15 S&H
Free to cancel within 30 days or $59.99 after 30 days, no prorated refund for annual plan
1 year unlimited saves $60 on regular unlimited plan; Free phone system after rebate
USA, Canada; Also have international plan to 40 countries
Great value and range of plans; Only video phone provider
Annual: $199/yr; Unlimited: $19.95/mo
Annual Plan: $0;
Unlimited Monthly: $29.95
Free to cancel within 30 days or $39.95 after 30 days
First month free with monthly plan; No setup fee with annual: Free S&H on both
USA, Canada, Puerto Rico
Great value with best international rates
Unlimited: $23.97
Global: $29.97
Basic: $14.97/mo plus 2.4¢/min
Global Unlimited Annual Plan $287.70
$19.95 plus $9.95 S&H
None but no charge if you can't get it working
Free hardware; Free virtual numbers; No commitments
USA, Canada; Global plan includes 30 countries
Very good customer service and customer-friendly policies
VONAGE REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
[Editor's Note: Vonage has set up an exclusive 800 number where NextAdvisor.com visitors can speak to a Vonage representative to ask questions and ensure they get the latest and best deal possible. If you are interested in ordering Vonage we recommend that you call the number: 1-888-692-8076.]
Vonage's new Vonage World plan has significantly widened the distance between Vonage and other VoIP providers. At $24.99 per month for unlimited calling to not only anywhere in the U.S., but also to over 60 other countries (see list at the bottom of this review), Vonage World has raised the bar for all VoIP services. Not only that, but they've added some great new features as well. And now, until November 26, when you order Vonage online you will get one month of service for free.
While we've long said Vonage is the best VoIP service, it was priced a bit higher than some competitors (though still offering several hundreds in savings compared to traditional phone service), making other options better for the ultra cost-conscious. Now that Vonage World includes unlimited calling to over 60 countries at the same low $24.99 per-month price as Vonage's old unlimited plan, frequent international callers will actually find Vonage is one of the cheapest international VoIP options.
The new Vonage World plan also adds some incredibly useful and cool new voicemail features that further cement its position as the VoIP leader. Users of Apple's iPhone will immediately understand the huge benefits of Vonage Visual Voicemail. Rather than having to call up a number and listen to each voicemail individually, users can simply log into their Vonage account and see who called, when and the length of the message. This can be an incredible time-saver for heavy voicemail users. The other extremely useful feature that Vonage World has is free text transcription of all your voicemails. So you can have the text (and of course the audio as well) of any new voicemail emailed to you as soon as it arrives. This service is particularly good for highly mobile people and enables you to get your voicemails in places you normally couldn't. While the transcriptions aren't always perfect, they almost always give you a clear understanding of the message.
Of course, Vonage still provides the highest quality service of any of our recommended providers. Despite the addition of 60 countries and the new voicemail features, the Vonage World plan (which replaces the old Vonage Residential Unlimited plan) is still just $24.99 per month and includes free activation and a free V-Portal adapter with free shipping. With the addition of the free international calling, we believe Vonage World will now save many people not just hundreds, but thousands of dollars a year compared to traditional phone service. Also, Vonage is the only VoIP provider we recommend that does not require you to use a credit card (you can pay from your checking account instead). Vonage still has its 500 minute plan priced at $17.99 per month, but it does not include unlimited calling to the 60+ countries or the new voicemail features, and the set-up fees are not waved. Users of this plan can, however, get a free reconditioned adapter. This plan could still be the best option for low-volume, domestic-only caller, but the Vonage World plan will be a better option for most consumers.
Below is the full alphabetical list of countries included in Vonage World. The * indicates that calls to mobile phones are also included:
Andorra
Argentina
Australia (excl. External Territories)
Austria
Bahamas*
Bahrain
Belgium
Brazil
Brunei*
Bulgaria
Canada*
Chile
China*
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guam*
Hong Kong*
Hungary
Iceland
India*
Iraq
Ireland
Israel (non Paltel)
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Latvia
Luxembourg
Macau*
Macedonia
Malaysia*
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico*
Romania
Russia
Saipan*
San Marino*
Singapore*
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand*
Turkey
U.S. Virgin Islands*
United Kingdom
Venezuela
Zambia
Dislaimer: Excludes certain call types such as calls to non-geographic and premium numbers. Calls to cell phones may be included depending on destination (they're included if they have a * in our list). Subject to change.
PHONE POWER REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
Phone Power is a relative newcomer to the VoIP landscape but has hit a sweet spot in the market with their nice range of very cheap plans. For those that aren't afraid of a longer term commitment and are looking for the best value, Phone Power's prepaid annual unlimited plan is just $199.95, and for a limited time, they are offering a second year free, which averages out to just $8.33 per month. Combined with its relatively low set-up cost of $14.95, this pricing makes PhonePower's prepay annual unlimited plan the cheapest overall VoIP plan we've found. There is no prorated refund for this plan but PhonePower does have a 30-day Satisfaction Guarantee which allows you to cancel in the first 30 days and only have to pay the cost of the monthly no-contract plan, $19.95.
For those not wanting such a long commitment, we like their monthly unlimited plan best, which is just $19.95 per month. This plan is an especially strong value when you consider that Phone Power doesn't charge activation fees for any of its plans and has no cancellation fees if you want to cancel the monthly plan. If you do sign a 1 year contract, the monthly unlimited plan will cost $16.95 per month but you'll pay a cancellation fee of $99 or the remainder of the contract amount, whichever is less, although you'll only pay $19.95 to cover 1 month of service if you cancel in the first 30 days. If you sign a 2 year contract, the monthly price drops to $14.95 with the same cancellation restrictions as the 1 year contract. All of these plans include a free cloned second line, which allows you to make or receive calls when the first line is already in use. Additionally, they're now offering 60 minutes of free calling per month to over 70 countries.
As mentioned above, the only setup cost on each of Phone Power's plans is the $14.95 shipping & handling fee, as they don't charge for activation and they lease you an adapter for free. Also as noted above, they don't charge any cancellation fees on the month-to-month plans but also do not give refunds for the prepaid plans if you cancel early and after 30 days. While Phone Power doesn't have a particularly long track record, our research and conversations with the company indicate that they are a well-run company that should be around for the long haul. They've been gaining market share quickly and after reviewing their offerings, it's easy to see why.
VIATALK REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
ViaTalk is currently offering unlimited long distance phone service
for one year for $189 plus an extra year free promotion for new
ViaTalk customers, making it very similar to PhonePower's 2 year for
$199 plan. ViaTalk has a bit higher set-up fees ($41 total vs. $15)
but makes up for it with a 14-day money back guarantee as well as a
pro-rated refund for cancellation after 14 days with a $49.95 penalty
(PhonePower does not give any pro-rated refund for their 2 year $199 plan after 30 days). So while PhonePower's plan ends up being a bit cheaper because
of the lower setup fees, ViaTalk's makes it a little cheaper should
you want to cancel early on. Also included with this plan are
unlimited calls to Canada and a 2nd phone line. The two line
configuration activates two separate extensions to your home phone.
This is great if you have a teenager always on the phone. You can
simply pick up line two and either dial out or receive calls. We
should also note that ViaTalk's $29.95 activation fee and $9.95
shipping and handling fee are not refundable. If you don't want to
commit for 2 years, ViaTalk has an unlimited monthly plan for $22.95
which is not all that great of a deal when compared to the
competition. They also offer a 500 minute plan for as low as $9.95
per month, although that requires a 2-year contract and upfront
payment. Terminating the contract early incurs a cancellation fee of
$49.95. ViaTalk offers several different plans and time commitments,
so you have a lot of flexibility to choose what's right for you. While
ViaTalk is a small company, they have been offering their VoIP service
for several years and have proven their ability to maintain a
long-term business while still offering cheap plans.
LINGO REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
Lingo is a great all-around value but is a particularly good choice for those that want to call internationally often. Lingo has been around longer than any of the other VoIP providers that we recommend, so you know you can rely on them. Their World Max plan includes calls to over 80 countries throughout the world, including mobile phone numbers in several locations (see below for a complete list). The World Max plan comes in at $23.95 per month and also includes unlimited calling throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Even if you never or rarely call internationally, Lingo's price, functionality and reliability make it a great choice.
If you only plan to make calls within the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, their America Unlimited plan, at $19.95 per month, is a better choice, though you'll miss out on some shipping and activation discounts.
Lingo is currently offering its new World Max subscribers over $100 in savings with a discounted rate of $4.95 per month for the first month, free activation ($29.95 value), free shipping (a $14.95 value) and a free Linksys adapter ($50 value), plus a no risk 30-day money back guarantee. The America Unlimited plan gets you free equipment, the discounted first month, and the 30-day guarantee, but you will pay shipping and activation. You should note that for both plans they will charge a $99.95 fee if you cancel after 30 days.
It's very close in price to Vonage's monthly world rate (Lingo is $1.00 less) and includes more countries, though Vonage's cancellation fee is considerably less. Here's a complete list of the countries covered by the World Max plan:
Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bahamas - Mobile
Bahrain
Bahrain - Mobile
Bangladesh
Bangladesh - Mobile
Belgium
Brazil
Brunei
Brunei - Mobile
Bulgaria
Canada
Canada - Mobile
Chile
China
China - Mobile
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Estonia
Finland
France
French-Antill
French-Guiana
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guam - Mobile
Hong Kong
Hong Kong - Mobile
Hungary
Iceland
India
India - Mobile
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Laos
Laos mobile
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Macao - Mobile
Macedonia, Republic of
Malaysia
Malaysia - Mobile
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Romania
Russia
Saipan
Saipan - Mobile
San Marino Saudi Arabia-Jeddah
Singapore
Singapore - Mobile
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Thailand - Mobile
Trinidad
Turkey
U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands - Mobile
United Kingdom
United States
United States - Mobile
Vatican City
Venezuela
Zambia
8x8 REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
8x8, one of the early players in VoIP, offers both a monthly $24.99 unlimited plan and a $239.99 annual unlimited plan. Both of these plans come with a very high quality free (after rebate) phone system. If you don't want to commit to a year or pay $239.99 upfront, 8x8's $24.99 per month ($29.99 activation fee) unlimited plan is not a bad one, but is a bit more expensive than some. Their $239.99 annual plan is a good deal but comes with few caveats: they charge a $29.99 activation fee, there is no prorated refund if you cancel after the 30 day trial period, and there are additional taxes. All that being said, the combination of a very high quality free phone system and one month free is attractive. For frequent international callers, 8x8 offers a great value unlimited calling plan that includes calls to 40 different countries for $39.99 per month (it also includes the first month free and free phone system). 8x8 also offers another feature none of the competitors do: video phones and video calling plans. These are very cool devices that 8x8 will sell you at a discount when you subscribe to one of their plans.
VoIP.com VoIP ReviewGo to Site | Back to Chart
Voip.com offers a great selection of inexpensive plans and for those that don't want to pay for a year upfront, we think Voip.com offers the best value monthly unlimited plan. They also offer possibly the best year prepay plan now that Voip.com is not charging any set-up fees on it. There's a 30-day money back guarantee. After thirty days you will be charged a $39.95 termination fee, and there's no prorated refund on the annual plan. Their monthly unlimited plan for $19.95 is just about as cheap as you will find for a pay-as-you-go plan with a free first-month of service promotion and no shipping and handling charges for the equipment. They also offer an annual unlimited plan for $199 per year. Voip.com has two other main differentiators from the competition. First, their international rates are the cheapest we have found to most countries. Second, they boast an impressive feature set that can almost all be managed online. Overall, Voip.com offers a strong value proposition with something for everyone. We like their monthly unlimited plan and cheap international rates the best.
VYL MEDIA REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
VYL Media took over VoipYourLife in May 2009. Other than an increase in shipping and handling fees, and the addition of an annual plan, it seems that VYL Media is keeping things pretty much the same. VYL Media is not as big as Vonage or Verizon but they stand out from the crowd by offering excellent customer service and very customer-friendly policies. They also provide easy-to-reach and very competent U.S. customer service. VYL Media's plans are not the cheapest but they are still very well priced and may be your cheapest option when you factor in the limited number of extra fees they charge. Their basic plan is just $14.97 per month and includes incoming calls for free but costs 2.4 cents per minute for outbound domestic calls. VYL Media also has a Global Unlimited Annual Plan for $287.70 ($360 after fees and taxes), giving you unlimited calling to over 30 countries, though some (such as Brazil, Mexico, and Russia) are limited to specific major cities. Check their complete list before signing up. It's one of the few to offer such a plan, and while expensive, may be a great deal for those with family and friends in the included countries. Also, it should be noted that VYL Media does not have a concrete money back guarantee. Even though they have a demonstrated commitment to customer satisfaction, you may want to think twice before laying out that kind of money without a written guarantee. We think a better value is the $23.97 Premier Unlimited plan that also gives you unlimited outbound calls anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. If you call internationally with any regularity, their Premier Global Unlimited Plan is a fantastic value as long as the countries you're calling to are included in their plan. VYL Media doesn't mention their money-back guarantee but they have assured us that if you cannot get your service working properly for some reason, you will not be charged. Overall, VYL Media's two unlimited plans offer fantastic values that look even better when combined with their strong customer service.
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| Service Name: | Plans: | Setup Fees: | $ Back Guarantee & Cancel Policy: | Promotions: | Countries Included: | Rating: | Bottom Line: |
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World Unlimited: $24.99/mo 500 mins: $17.99 | None - free activation, shipping & Vonage phone adapter | Free to cancel within 30 days/under 250 mins or $39.99 after 30 days | 1 month free; $24.99/mo. unlimited to 60+ countries; no set-up fees | Over 60 - see review for full list | |
1 month free, unlimited calling to 60+ countries, best quality, no set-up fees |
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Unlimited: $8.33-$19.95 | $14.95 S&H | No cancel fee for month-to-month plan, can cancel prepay & contract plans in first 30 days for $19.95 | $199.95 for two years prepaid unlimited; 60 minutes free calling to 70+ countries | USA & Canada | |
Cheapest total cost of any plan (2 years unlimited for $199 + $14.95 setup) |
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Unlimited: $7.86-$22.95 500 mins: $9.95-$14.95 |
$29.99 plus $10.95 S&H and up | Free to cancel within 14 days or $49.95 disconnection fee per line after 14 days; No refunds on activation or S&H | 2 years for $189 | USA, Canada | |
Super cheap plan (2 years unlimited for $189 + $40.94 setup) with low cancellation fees |
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World Max: $4.95 for first mo., $23.95 thereafter; America Unlimited: $4.95 for first mo., $19.95 thereafter | None on World Max plan; $14.95 S&H + $29.95 activation on America Unlimited | Free to cancel within 30 days or $99.95 after 30 days | $4.95 for first month; Free activation, equipment, shipping (World Max); Free equipment (America Unlimited) | Over 80 - see review for full list | |
Solid plans from reliable company; Unlimited calling to 80+ countries; Discounted first month with code: LWM99 |
| Service Name: | Plans: | Setup Fees: | $ Back Guarantee & Cancel Policy: | Promotions: | Countries Included: | Rating: | Bottom Line: |
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Unlimited: $24.99 Unlimited Global: $39.99; $239.99 annual |
$29.99 plus approx. $15 S&H | Free to cancel within 30 days or $59.99 after 30 days, no prorated refund for annual plan | 1 year unlimited saves $60 on regular unlimited plan; Free phone system after rebate | USA, Canada; Also have international plan to 40 countries | |
Great value and range of plans; Only video phone provider |
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Annual: $199/yr; Unlimited: $19.95/mo | Annual Plan: $0; Unlimited Monthly: $29.95 |
Free to cancel within 30 days or $39.95 after 30 days | First month free with monthly plan; No setup fee with annual: Free S&H on both | USA, Canada, Puerto Rico | |
Great value with best international rates |
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Unlimited: $23.97 Global: $29.97 Basic: $14.97/mo plus 2.4¢/min Global Unlimited Annual Plan $287.70 |
$19.95 plus $9.95 S&H | None but no charge if you can't get it working | Free hardware; Free virtual numbers; No commitments | USA, Canada; Global plan includes 30 countries | |
Very good customer service and customer-friendly policies |
VONAGE REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
[Editor's Note: Vonage has set up an exclusive 800 number where NextAdvisor.com visitors can speak to a Vonage representative to ask questions and ensure they get the latest and best deal possible. If you are interested in ordering Vonage we recommend that you call the number: 1-888-692-8076.]
Vonage's new Vonage World plan has significantly widened the distance between Vonage and other VoIP providers. At $24.99 per month for unlimited calling to not only anywhere in the U.S., but also to over 60 other countries (see list at the bottom of this review), Vonage World has raised the bar for all VoIP services. Not only that, but they've added some great new features as well. And now, until November 26, when you order Vonage online you will get one month of service for free.
While we've long said Vonage is the best VoIP service, it was priced a bit higher than some competitors (though still offering several hundreds in savings compared to traditional phone service), making other options better for the ultra cost-conscious. Now that Vonage World includes unlimited calling to over 60 countries at the same low $24.99 per-month price as Vonage's old unlimited plan, frequent international callers will actually find Vonage is one of the cheapest international VoIP options.
The new Vonage World plan also adds some incredibly useful and cool new voicemail features that further cement its position as the VoIP leader. Users of Apple's iPhone will immediately understand the huge benefits of Vonage Visual Voicemail. Rather than having to call up a number and listen to each voicemail individually, users can simply log into their Vonage account and see who called, when and the length of the message. This can be an incredible time-saver for heavy voicemail users. The other extremely useful feature that Vonage World has is free text transcription of all your voicemails. So you can have the text (and of course the audio as well) of any new voicemail emailed to you as soon as it arrives. This service is particularly good for highly mobile people and enables you to get your voicemails in places you normally couldn't. While the transcriptions aren't always perfect, they almost always give you a clear understanding of the message.
Of course, Vonage still provides the highest quality service of any of our recommended providers. Despite the addition of 60 countries and the new voicemail features, the Vonage World plan (which replaces the old Vonage Residential Unlimited plan) is still just $24.99 per month and includes free activation and a free V-Portal adapter with free shipping. With the addition of the free international calling, we believe Vonage World will now save many people not just hundreds, but thousands of dollars a year compared to traditional phone service. Also, Vonage is the only VoIP provider we recommend that does not require you to use a credit card (you can pay from your checking account instead). Vonage still has its 500 minute plan priced at $17.99 per month, but it does not include unlimited calling to the 60+ countries or the new voicemail features, and the set-up fees are not waved. Users of this plan can, however, get a free reconditioned adapter. This plan could still be the best option for low-volume, domestic-only caller, but the Vonage World plan will be a better option for most consumers.
Below is the full alphabetical list of countries included in Vonage World. The * indicates that calls to mobile phones are also included:
Andorra
Argentina
Australia (excl. External Territories)
Austria
Bahamas*
Bahrain
Belgium
Brazil
Brunei*
Bulgaria
Canada*
Chile
China*
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Estonia
Finland
France
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guam*
Hong Kong*
Hungary
Iceland
India*
Iraq
Ireland
Israel (non Paltel)
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Latvia
Luxembourg
Macau*
Macedonia
Malaysia*
Malta
Mexico
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico*
Romania
Russia
Saipan*
San Marino*
Singapore*
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand*
Turkey
U.S. Virgin Islands*
United Kingdom
Venezuela
Zambia
Dislaimer: Excludes certain call types such as calls to non-geographic and premium numbers. Calls to cell phones may be included depending on destination (they're included if they have a * in our list). Subject to change.
PHONE POWER REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
Phone Power is a relative newcomer to the VoIP landscape but has hit a sweet spot in the market with their nice range of very cheap plans. For those that aren't afraid of a longer term commitment and are looking for the best value, Phone Power's prepaid annual unlimited plan is just $199.95, and for a limited time, they are offering a second year free, which averages out to just $8.33 per month. Combined with its relatively low set-up cost of $14.95, this pricing makes PhonePower's prepay annual unlimited plan the cheapest overall VoIP plan we've found. There is no prorated refund for this plan but PhonePower does have a 30-day Satisfaction Guarantee which allows you to cancel in the first 30 days and only have to pay the cost of the monthly no-contract plan, $19.95.
For those not wanting such a long commitment, we like their monthly unlimited plan best, which is just $19.95 per month. This plan is an especially strong value when you consider that Phone Power doesn't charge activation fees for any of its plans and has no cancellation fees if you want to cancel the monthly plan. If you do sign a 1 year contract, the monthly unlimited plan will cost $16.95 per month but you'll pay a cancellation fee of $99 or the remainder of the contract amount, whichever is less, although you'll only pay $19.95 to cover 1 month of service if you cancel in the first 30 days. If you sign a 2 year contract, the monthly price drops to $14.95 with the same cancellation restrictions as the 1 year contract. All of these plans include a free cloned second line, which allows you to make or receive calls when the first line is already in use. Additionally, they're now offering 60 minutes of free calling per month to over 70 countries.
As mentioned above, the only setup cost on each of Phone Power's plans is the $14.95 shipping & handling fee, as they don't charge for activation and they lease you an adapter for free. Also as noted above, they don't charge any cancellation fees on the month-to-month plans but also do not give refunds for the prepaid plans if you cancel early and after 30 days. While Phone Power doesn't have a particularly long track record, our research and conversations with the company indicate that they are a well-run company that should be around for the long haul. They've been gaining market share quickly and after reviewing their offerings, it's easy to see why.
VIATALK REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
ViaTalk is currently offering unlimited long distance phone service for one year for $189 plus an extra year free promotion for new ViaTalk customers, making it very similar to PhonePower's 2 year for $199 plan. ViaTalk has a bit higher set-up fees ($41 total vs. $15) but makes up for it with a 14-day money back guarantee as well as a pro-rated refund for cancellation after 14 days with a $49.95 penalty (PhonePower does not give any pro-rated refund for their 2 year $199 plan after 30 days). So while PhonePower's plan ends up being a bit cheaper because of the lower setup fees, ViaTalk's makes it a little cheaper should you want to cancel early on. Also included with this plan are unlimited calls to Canada and a 2nd phone line. The two line configuration activates two separate extensions to your home phone. This is great if you have a teenager always on the phone. You can simply pick up line two and either dial out or receive calls. We should also note that ViaTalk's $29.95 activation fee and $9.95 shipping and handling fee are not refundable. If you don't want to commit for 2 years, ViaTalk has an unlimited monthly plan for $22.95 which is not all that great of a deal when compared to the competition. They also offer a 500 minute plan for as low as $9.95 per month, although that requires a 2-year contract and upfront payment. Terminating the contract early incurs a cancellation fee of $49.95. ViaTalk offers several different plans and time commitments, so you have a lot of flexibility to choose what's right for you. While ViaTalk is a small company, they have been offering their VoIP service for several years and have proven their ability to maintain a long-term business while still offering cheap plans.
LINGO REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
Lingo is a great all-around value but is a particularly good choice for those that want to call internationally often. Lingo has been around longer than any of the other VoIP providers that we recommend, so you know you can rely on them. Their World Max plan includes calls to over 80 countries throughout the world, including mobile phone numbers in several locations (see below for a complete list). The World Max plan comes in at $23.95 per month and also includes unlimited calling throughout the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico. Even if you never or rarely call internationally, Lingo's price, functionality and reliability make it a great choice.
If you only plan to make calls within the US, Canada, and Puerto Rico, their America Unlimited plan, at $19.95 per month, is a better choice, though you'll miss out on some shipping and activation discounts.
Lingo is currently offering its new World Max subscribers over $100 in savings with a discounted rate of $4.95 per month for the first month, free activation ($29.95 value), free shipping (a $14.95 value) and a free Linksys adapter ($50 value), plus a no risk 30-day money back guarantee. The America Unlimited plan gets you free equipment, the discounted first month, and the 30-day guarantee, but you will pay shipping and activation. You should note that for both plans they will charge a $99.95 fee if you cancel after 30 days.
It's very close in price to Vonage's monthly world rate (Lingo is $1.00 less) and includes more countries, though Vonage's cancellation fee is considerably less. Here's a complete list of the countries covered by the World Max plan:
Andorra
Argentina
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bahamas - Mobile
Bahrain
Bahrain - Mobile
Bangladesh
Bangladesh - Mobile
Belgium
Brazil
Brunei
Brunei - Mobile
Bulgaria
Canada
Canada - Mobile
Chile
China
China - Mobile
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominican Republic
Estonia
Finland
France
French-Antill
French-Guiana
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Guadeloupe
Guam
Guam - Mobile
Hong Kong
Hong Kong - Mobile
Hungary
Iceland
India
India - Mobile
Indonesia
Iraq
Ireland
Israel
Italy
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Laos
Laos mobile
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macao
Macao - Mobile
Macedonia, Republic of
Malaysia
Malaysia - Mobile
Malta
Mauritius
Mexico
Monaco
Netherlands
New Zealand
Norway
Panama
Peru
Poland
Portugal
Puerto Rico
Romania
Russia
Saipan
Saipan - Mobile
San Marino Saudi Arabia-Jeddah
Singapore
Singapore - Mobile
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
South Korea
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
Taiwan
Thailand
Thailand - Mobile
Trinidad
Turkey
U.S. Virgin Islands
U.S. Virgin Islands - Mobile
United Kingdom
United States
United States - Mobile
Vatican City
Venezuela
Zambia
8x8 REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
8x8, one of the early players in VoIP, offers both a monthly $24.99 unlimited plan and a $239.99 annual unlimited plan. Both of these plans come with a very high quality free (after rebate) phone system. If you don't want to commit to a year or pay $239.99 upfront, 8x8's $24.99 per month ($29.99 activation fee) unlimited plan is not a bad one, but is a bit more expensive than some. Their $239.99 annual plan is a good deal but comes with few caveats: they charge a $29.99 activation fee, there is no prorated refund if you cancel after the 30 day trial period, and there are additional taxes. All that being said, the combination of a very high quality free phone system and one month free is attractive. For frequent international callers, 8x8 offers a great value unlimited calling plan that includes calls to 40 different countries for $39.99 per month (it also includes the first month free and free phone system). 8x8 also offers another feature none of the competitors do: video phones and video calling plans. These are very cool devices that 8x8 will sell you at a discount when you subscribe to one of their plans.
VoIP.com VoIP ReviewGo to Site | Back to Chart
Voip.com offers a great selection of inexpensive plans and for those that don't want to pay for a year upfront, we think Voip.com offers the best value monthly unlimited plan. They also offer possibly the best year prepay plan now that Voip.com is not charging any set-up fees on it. There's a 30-day money back guarantee. After thirty days you will be charged a $39.95 termination fee, and there's no prorated refund on the annual plan. Their monthly unlimited plan for $19.95 is just about as cheap as you will find for a pay-as-you-go plan with a free first-month of service promotion and no shipping and handling charges for the equipment. They also offer an annual unlimited plan for $199 per year. Voip.com has two other main differentiators from the competition. First, their international rates are the cheapest we have found to most countries. Second, they boast an impressive feature set that can almost all be managed online. Overall, Voip.com offers a strong value proposition with something for everyone. We like their monthly unlimited plan and cheap international rates the best.
VYL MEDIA REVIEW:Go to Site | Back to Chart
VYL Media took over VoipYourLife in May 2009. Other than an increase in shipping and handling fees, and the addition of an annual plan, it seems that VYL Media is keeping things pretty much the same. VYL Media is not as big as Vonage or Verizon but they stand out from the crowd by offering excellent customer service and very customer-friendly policies. They also provide easy-to-reach and very competent U.S. customer service. VYL Media's plans are not the cheapest but they are still very well priced and may be your cheapest option when you factor in the limited number of extra fees they charge. Their basic plan is just $14.97 per month and includes incoming calls for free but costs 2.4 cents per minute for outbound domestic calls. VYL Media also has a Global Unlimited Annual Plan for $287.70 ($360 after fees and taxes), giving you unlimited calling to over 30 countries, though some (such as Brazil, Mexico, and Russia) are limited to specific major cities. Check their complete list before signing up. It's one of the few to offer such a plan, and while expensive, may be a great deal for those with family and friends in the included countries. Also, it should be noted that VYL Media does not have a concrete money back guarantee. Even though they have a demonstrated commitment to customer satisfaction, you may want to think twice before laying out that kind of money without a written guarantee. We think a better value is the $23.97 Premier Unlimited plan that also gives you unlimited outbound calls anywhere in the U.S. and Canada. If you call internationally with any regularity, their Premier Global Unlimited Plan is a fantastic value as long as the countries you're calling to are included in their plan. VYL Media doesn't mention their money-back guarantee but they have assured us that if you cannot get your service working properly for some reason, you will not be charged. Overall, VYL Media's two unlimited plans offer fantastic values that look even better when combined with their strong customer service.
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